Principals' Message
It is hard to believe we are already into Term 4 of school, with so many wonderful events and learning opportunities ahead! We ask that you continue to check the newsletter each week and Compass notifications throughout this busy term to make sure you don’t miss anything.
WELCOME TO NEW FAMILIES
| Year 1 Green | Lennox Rayner |
| Year 2 Blue | Jack Rayner |
| Year 3 Red | Isabelle Perfrement |
| Year 4 Green | Tian Bosch |
| Year 5 Blue | Archer Fox-Philp |
| Year 5 Red | Benjamin Dawson |
| Year 6 Blue | Ruben Bosch |
| Year 6 Blue | Zachary Worthington |
WELCOME TO TRAINING TEACHERS
During Term 4, we welcome University students who are training to complete their qualifications and practice experiences for teaching. Completing their teaching practicums at St Peter’s are Jade Garland in 3 Green and Jasper Schultz in 4 Blue. We wish them well as they are supported by our wonderful teachers to hone their skills and prepare to complete their studies.
STAFF CULTURAL LEARNING
Our Staff Development Day on Monday this week gave our staff a special opportunity to visit local significant Aboriginal cultural sites in Port Macquarie and surrounding areas, led by Birpai elder Uncle Bill O’Brien, our Indigenous Education Worker Leanne Parsons, and the Indigenous Education Worker at St Joseph’s Nikki Parsons. This experience was designed to support our staff in building cultural awareness and respect for the history of Indigenous people of the Birpai nation so that we can more effectively integrate learning into school curriculum and work towards reconciliation. We are very grateful to Uncle Bill, Leanne and Nikki for sharing their wisdom and knowledge.
Blackmans Point...
Rollands Plains ...
Cowarra Dam ...
Mrs Yorks Garden ...
Town Green ...
MISSION
SOCKTOBER = CRAZY SOCKS FOR MISSIONS
As part of the Catholic missions month of October we are raising money for children’s education and food in Zambia. Come dressed in your school uniform with your crazy socks and a gold coin donation for charity next Friday.
TELL THEM FROM ME PARENT SURVEY
The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Student Survey gathers students’ perspectives on their learning, engagement, wellbeing, and school experiences. It helps schools understand how students feel about their education and identify areas for improvement to support positive outcomes. Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 at St Peter’s completed the survey in Term 2. Each week this Term a snapshot of this data will be shared. Student focus and feedback groups in Years 4-6 will be facilitated with students this Term to further unpack the survey data.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROUP (SCG)
The SCG is a welcoming way for parents and carers to be involved in school life. Meeting once a Term, the group shares updates, provides feedback, and strengthens the connection between home, school, and parish.
Meetings include a short 5-minute parent learning session, and agenda items are due in the day before, on Monday 20th October. Add your agenda items via the Google document below.
School Community Group Agenda Item - Link
PARENT FACTSHEET
CHANGES TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER 16'S
From 10 December 2025, Australian law changes the rules for anyone under 16 using social media. This downloadable, short, student-friendly guide explains exactly what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do right now to protect your content and your digital rights. This guide helps students, parents, and educators understand the new national minimum-age requirements for platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X (Twitter) and more. It breaks down the law in plain language no jargon, no fear, just facts.
Student Guide - Changes to Social Media U/16's
LEARNING
CELEBRATING READING FLUENCY AND GROWTH
At St Peter’s, we are committed to ensuring every student reaches their full potential. A key part of this commitment involves closely tracking and utilising student data to inform our classroom practice, guide interventions, and ensure effective differentiation within the classroom. This ongoing analysis allows us to tailor our teaching to meet the specific needs of our students.
This year, our staff have placed a particular focus on closely tracking reading fluency across all primary grades. Reading fluency is a critical skill that bridges decoding (sounding out words) and comprehension (understanding what is read). It involves reading text accurately, with appropriate speed, and expression. Within the classroom, our specific focus has been on three key elements of fluency:
- Accuracy: This is the ability to correctly identify and pronounce words in a text. Accurate readers make very few errors.
- Prosody: This refers to reading with appropriate expression, rhythm, and tone, much like natural speech. It includes using proper phrasing, pausing at punctuation, and varying one's voice to reflect the meaning of the text. Prosodic reading is a strong indicator that a student understands what they are reading.
- Speaking Speed (Rate): This is the pace at which a student reads. The goal is not to read too fast, but to read at a smooth, conversational rate that allows for comprehension.
THE POWER OF READING ALOUD AT HOME
Developing strong reading fluency requires regular practice. We encourage all parents to continue supporting this goal at home. Regular oral reading is one of the most effective ways to build fluency. When your child reads aloud to you, they are practicing accuracy, prosody, and speed, and you are providing valuable support and encouragement. Spending even a few minutes each day listening to your child read, or reading to them, significantly boosts their confidence and skill development.
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND GROWTH
We are incredibly proud of the hard work and progress our students have demonstrated in reading this year. To celebrate their consistent efforts, we will be awarding one student per class who has shown both academic excellence and significant growth in reading throughout Term 3. We look forward to celebrating their dedication and achievement on Friday, Week 4 (November 7th).
Thank you for your ongoing support of your child's learning journey.
 Tess Koning Principal |
 Karen Robson Assistant Principal Learning |
 Rebecca Cameron Assistant Principal Mission |